CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A curtain call happens at the end of a public performance when one or more performers returns to the stage to be recognized by the audience.
Your garden is nearing that time when a curtain call would be appropriate. Your garden plants are the performers.
If you were wondering who oversees the show, we give that credit to Mother Nature. You, humble gardener, are the stagehand and, sometimes, the audience.
What does a curtain call for a garden look like in early November? Here is our advice:
Plant spring flowering bulbs: Tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and the like are still available at garden retailers, and we recommend that you plant plenty of them now.
Only by planting the dried root (bulb) of these reliable perennial garden performers in the fall will you get the show you dream of come spring.
Here are some planting tips:
1. Plant three times as deep as the bulb is thick: Measured from the pointy end to the flat end (basil plate), multiply by three and dig a hole for each bulb or cluster of bulbs appropriately.
2. Plant in well-drained soil: If you have clay-based soil, add lots of play-sand to open it up and allow the water to flow through it freely. Otherwise, your bulbs may rot in the hole.
3. Pointy side up: A rule that works for all spring bulbs, but if you happen to plant them upside down or sideways you will be amazed at how often they will find the sunshine just the same.
4. For fragrance, plant hyacinths: Planted near your front door, they make a wonderful greeting for all who visit. To attract pollinators, choose any single-flowering bulb but crocus are our favourites as they bloom extra early when the bees have just emerged from winter slumber. Crocus are bee-magnets.
Lawn mower: We suggest you sharpen your lawn mower, clean and make sure that any gas that remains in the tank includes gas preservative. It is inexpensive and will save you a lot of pulling on the starter come spring. When you put your lawn mower away for the winter, remove the spark plug connection. Come spring remember to reconnect it or you will wreck your arm pulling the starter string.
Prevent salt and wind damage: Mark has more than 20 metres of Hill’s Yew hedge that he wraps with a layer of burlap this time of year. Be sure to wrap all evergreens that are susceptible to wind damage, mostly from the north/west, salt spray from the road from prevailing north/west winds and from sunburn, as solar radiance bounces off the snow on the south side of evergreens. If you wrap the whole plant or hedge in burlap you cannot go wrong.
Prevent rodent damage: Young fruit trees are very susceptible to bark damage from mice and rabbits. We apply Bobbex liquid from a spray bottle to the bark area of each tree to prevent rodents from killing young, tender trees and shrubs. Apply to the lower section of the trunk at least 30 cm higher than the deepest snow. Rabbits will stand on their hind haunches to nibble on tender bark when they are hungry enough.
Protect broad leafed evergreens: In southern Ontario, we are blessed with relatively mild winters, compared to say the Prairies. In zone 5 and 6, we can grow euonymus, boxwood, hardy holly, mahonia and the like. However, the drying effects of winter wind and extremely dry air can suck the moisture out of them. We apply Wiltpruf liquid to all broad-leafed evergreens to prevent winter desiccation.
Your garden is now ready to take a bow. As you applaud your way through these minor tasks, it might interest you to know that Luciano Pavarotti holds the world record for curtain calls at 165. That is, if you don’t count Mother Nature.
Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author, broadcaster, tree advocate and member of the Order of Canada. His son, Ben, is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of University of Guelph and Dalhousie University in Halifax. Follow them at markcullen.com, @markcullengardening and on Facebook.
